Method of making deep-well auger stems



March 30 1926. I 8, 3

I G. A. MONTGOMERY METHOD OF MAKING DEEFWELL AUGER STEMS Filed Au ust 8, 1924 4- M 7, aw

r 0f the method.

Patented Mar. 30, 1926.

GUSTAVUS .A. MONTGOMERYQQF TITUSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN OR 'llJ-IIYITUS- VILLE FORGE COMPANY,- OF :YIIIUSV-ILLE, PENNS XLVAN-IA, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

man r or MAKING i E P W ms- A pp lie ation filed August 8. 1924. Serial 1\T o."7 30.796.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that '1, GUsTAvUs A. Mo re eo rnr, a citizen of Finlan'd,and residing at Titusville, in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new.

and useful Improvements iii 'lltltllOClS of Making Deep-Tell Auger Stems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to a method of making tools used in boring artesian and oil wells but more particularly to a method of making auger stems such as shownin United States Letters Patent No. 1,188,982, granted'to L. E. Nebergall, une 27,1916.

The chief object of they invention isthe provision of a novel and efficient ine'thodof making auger stems of this character wh ch willaflord a marked saving in time, material and cost of manufacture over other methods heretofore employed.

Another object is to provide a method of forging spiral or-auger stems in such a manner that the twisting or spiral format on of the. stem-wings is performed -from 'the same heattreatment as that initially given the stock or billet for shaping it into cruciform cross section with the wings straight and parallel "with the axis 0f the stem.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary side-view of the anger or spiral stem made by my improved method. Figure 2 is a' cross section thereof on line 22, Fig. 1. Figure-'3 is a.-frag mentary front elevation of a well-known type of forging press used in'practicing the invention and showing the'first step of t he method. -Figu'res 1, 5 and 6 are end views of the forging dies showing the various stages in shaping the auger stein. Figure 7 'isja side view of the dies illustrated in Figure -6. -Figure 8 is a'nengl'vi'ew of the dies employed inthefinal or straightening step Similar Characters of reference indicat corresponding par-ts throughout the; several views. i

{The auger-or spiralstem-made in accordance with the method constituting the subject matter of this application consists of a plurality of ribs or 'win'gs10 which are disposed radially to the-longitudinal axis of the stem and which are also inclined or twisted sons to extend l elically about said longitudinal axis. The pitch/of the wings relatively great and the length of the stem ordinarily used in practiceranges from twenty to forty feet. At its upper and lower ends, the spiral semis provided with the usual necks orcoupli-ng collars containing the threaded boxes 11, 12, respectively.

In practicing my method for making "the spiral stems any suitable and ,wellrknown forging press may be employed. That' shown n the drawings by Way of example,

"consists of columns 13, 13011 which the veric ally movable press head l lis guided. The numeral 155 indicates the anvil or bot tom dies and 16fthe upper dies' carried by the press head. As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, 'tliose dies are provided in their opposing faces with a series of longitudinal re- ;cesse's or cavities 17, 18 extending from end to end thereof. These cavities are of the desir-d shape in cross section to produce by stages the radial wings l0ofthestem. Aiiother -forging press locatedalongside the one "just described contains upper" and lower dies19 and 20, respectively, which are likewise provided in their opposingfaceswith longitudinal recesses or cavities 2lextendfrom" end to end thereof. As illustrated F1gS. 6-ZtI1 Cl *7, theopposingfaces of these dies arecurved' nthemanner shown at 22 -to produce the twisted or spiral form of the wings. The curved surfaces of said dies, on one side of the longitudinal axis thereof,

are inclined in one direction while the cor-v responding surfaces on the other side of such aXis a-re inelined in the opposite direction .in accordance with I the direction of spirality of the stern-wings on diametrically opposite side s'of'itsax'is. A i

After hawing sized the steel forging billet 23, from whichthe spiral stem'is made, into substantially rectangular cross-section, it is placed-diagonally-between the straight faces of the cli'e's15,.16-for the purpose of squaring the corners 24 to the approximate width or. thickness of the stein-wing 10 when finished. In this diagonal position, the billet is now placed over thecavity 17 of the lower die and the forging ,press is operated to worlrthe billet into the 'C'IllSlfOl'ID shape shown in Fig. 4, the vertically-aline'd wings being I formed in the opposing g die-cavities and the horizon-tally alined -w ngs being formed between the opposing-straight faces necessary to forge them in sections.

V of a turn.

. B erformin the twistin b L of said dies on opposite sides of their cavities; The billet is then placed over the cavity'18 of the lower die and forged in like manner into the shape disclosed in Fig. 5.

This breaking down process completes the first step of providing the stem with the to time during the forging operation.

- The next step in the method of making the auger stem is that of twisting the longitudinal wings formed in thefirst step into twisted or helical form. The heat remaining from the breaking process is utilized in shaping the wings into spiral form, no further heating of the stem being necessary. Thile in such heated state, thebillet is immediately forged between the dies 19 and 20, oneset of diametrioally-disposed wings being first shaped, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, after whichvthe other set is operated upon by simply giving the stem a quarter By this movement, the untwisted wings are removed from the cavities 21 ant placed between the opposingcurved faces 22 of the dies, while the finished or twisted wings occupy said cavities. The latter are of suflicient width to accommodate a given length of the twisted wings; x operation on the stem-wings immediately after the break ing down process, it not only eliminates reheating of the stem but the latter is prevented from bending out of shape, inasmuch as the helical or twisted wings add stiffness to the stem and keep it straight.

In view of the great length (20 to 40 feet) in which these spiral stems are made, it is By preference, it is first forged at the center and then toward its opposite ends until the spiral guide wings are completely fo med. After thus forging the stem, it s placed between a pair of straightening dies 25,

26, the .lower die 25. containing a ii-shaped groove or recess 27 upon which the lower spiral wings are seated. A fuller :28'is placed between the bottom face of the upper die 26 and in "the groove formed "between the opposing pairs of wings. By this arrangement a three-point bearing is provided forthe spiral stem, whereby it is effectually straightened in both lateral and vertical planes by theone operatioin The shaping dies are originally designed for; thelargest stems madeand should it be desired to make smaller stems of, varying sizes, the idle-cavities may be fitted with suitable liners, thereby controlling the sizes wanted without taking measurements during the forging process.

The necks at the ends of the stems may be formed in any suitable and wellknown manner.

lhis improved method of making spiral stems has proven 'very efiicient and reliable in practice. Aside from affording a material saving in time and labor over methods heretofore employed, this method reduces the cost of manufacture over and results in. a saving. of material of approximately 50%. Furthermore, the stem is supported on allsides during the forging operation, rendering a more thorough and uniform working of the material and eliminateing the formation of so-called cold shuts. I claim as my invention 1. The method of making a tool ing radial wings extending lengthwise thereof, which consists in forging a billet of rectangular cross-section into a stem substantially cruciform in cross-section, positioning the resulting wings of the stem be tween dies shaped to twist one set of diametrically opposite wings helieally about'the longitudinal axis of the stem, and. then rotating.. said stem to bring the other set of wings between said dies. 7

V 2. The method of making a tool .stem having radial wings extending lengthwise thereof, which consists in forging a billet of rectangular cross-section into a stem substantially cruciform in cross-section, immediately positioning, without further heat treating, the resulting wings of the stem between dies shaped to twist oneset of diametrically opposite wings helieally about the longitudinal axis of the stem, and then rotating said stem a quarter of a turn to bring the other set of wings between said dies, said stem being fed longitudinally and intermittently afterthe two successive twisting operations of the dies.

3. The method of making a tool stem havin radial wings extending lengthwise thereof, which consists in forging a steel billet into astem substantially cruciform in crosssection, positioning the resultingwings of the stem between dies shaped to twist one set of diametricallyopposite wings helieally stem havabout the axis of the stem while the other set I remains unchanged, and then rotating said stemto bring such'other set of wings between said dies while the previously twisted wings are unact-ed upon, said stem being fed longitudinally through the dies only aftertwo successive operations on the stem-wings, whereby portions of the stem from end to endthereof are successively acted upon to produce continuous and uninterrupted spiral wings thereon.

eusravus A. MONTGOMERY. 

